Israel’s Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully completed recently the first flight test of the next-generation Arrow 3 interceptor missile, according to an IMDO statement.
The test began at 12:52 a.m. EST with Arrow 3 being launched from an Israeli test range and concluded with the interceptor being terminated over the Mediterranean Sea, according to Boeing [BA], who is co-developing Arrow 3 with MLM of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Boeing said in addition to co-developing Arrow 3, it provides several interceptor components for the in-service Arrow 2, an endo-atmospheric interceptor. Endo-atmospheric is within earth’s atmosphere.
Boeing spokeswoman Jessica Carlton said recently Arrow 3, a two-stage interceptor, was launched from a modified Arrow launch canister, which MDA spokesman Richard Lehner said was aboard a mobile sea platform. Arrow 3 successfully flew an exo-atmospheric trajectory through space, in accordance with the test plan. Exo-atmospheric is the space outside the earth’s atmosphere. Lehner deferred questions about the next Arrow 3 test launch to IMDO, who did not respond by press time.
Carlton said Arrow 3 is designed to intercept medium and intermediate range ballistic missile threats outside the earth’s atmosphere. Arrow 2 had successful intercept missions in 2011 and 2012. Carlton said the 2011 test was an intercept test while the 2012 test was a “system level fly-out,” or a non-intercept test. While Arrow 3 is a “hit to kill” missile, Lehner said Arrow 2 was a “proximity fuzed” weapon, or a weapon that explodes in the vicinity of the target.
Carlton said co-development of Arrow 3 began in late 2008 and continued through 2012, with co-production as the next step. For the co-development phase, Carlton said Boeing was responsible for one-third of the effort and that the company expects a 50-50 split of the co-production effort.